Effects of pimobendan in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and recent congestive heart failure: Results of a prospective, double‐blind, randomized, nonpivotal, exploratory field study

Background: The benefits of pimobendan in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been evaluated prospectively. Hypothesis/objectives: To investigate the effects of pimobendan in cats with HCM and recent CHF and to identify possible endpoints for a pivotal study. We hypothesized that pimobendan would be well-tolerated and associated with improved outcome. Animals: Eighty-three cats with HCM and recently controlled CHF: 30 with and 53 without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Methods: Prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter nonpivotal field study. Cats received either pimobendan (0.30 mg/kg q12h, n = 43), placebo (n = 39), or no medication (n = 1) together with furosemide (